First Street Bike Project - with a few questions

[Sci85]

No problem at all GK. I forgot to notice the canada connection. My bad. Thanks for jumping in.

Sci85

[Sci85]

Got the frame back from the sand blaster today. Let the rebuild begin Whoo Hoo! Worth every penny too. Check out how clean that surface is.





Sci85

[GateKeeper]

very nice......

[Sci85]

Yeah, and best part is I found a guy who will powder coat the frame and swing arm with gloss black for only $100.00!

[GateKeeper]

WOW.......would he like to do another for the same price......

Nice find....

[Patman]

That frame looks good Sci85. Decent price for the powdetcoating too.

[Sci85]

Yeah I think this guy is just building his business. I will go check out his work before giving the go ahead. But if it looks good then I'm gonna be stoked. nothin better for a frame.

Finally found a choke cable on ebay (used). Sucks they don't make mine model anymore.

Sci85

[Flyboy]

Hey, hey, that frame is looking good, nothing like a sandblaster to clean things up, but you may want to get that powder on there quick, before the surface rust starts setting in, unprotected metal will gather surface rust overnight.
Can't wait to see it with the powder on.

[brslk]

That looks awesome. You have changed my mind. I was going to just sand mine and paint it but after seeing how good yours looks and how much less work it would be... Still might paint it myself but sandblasting is the way to go.

I'm a bit detail obsessed person when it comes to paint and such. I would take a sharp chisel and remove that welding splatter around the head tube (and if yours is like mine, a lot of other places).
Being a body guy and a bit of a welder stuff like that bugs the heck outta me.

Bruce.

[Flyboy]

Brslk, you are right, the welding from Suzuki left a lot to be desired, one can really clean up the frame nicely with a small grinder and a file and a bit of time, all the welds on most the Suzukis look like they were done by a first year apprentice with a week on the job.
If you really want to go over the top, you can spend some time and bondo and smooth them all in, so the frame looks like one piece.

[Sci85]

Yeah, noticed that welding splatter too. I don't have a grinder (one of the tools on my wish list). But, Once the black is on it you won't even notice it. I know I didn't until it was this clean.

And yeah Flyboy, I'm taking it to the powder coat guy tomorrow. No worries, it's so cold now, the air is very dry which is why it's in the garage and not the house.

Should have it back in three days. Can't wait!

Sci85

[GateKeeper]

brslk and Flyboy are right on the money about the weld splatter

Sci85, just grab a file and file down those splatter bumps, you will like the frame much more if you at least file those down....most will actually just pop off, if you hit them even with a chisel

I don't have a grinder, but had a file kicking around, and went at all the splatter I could find, and any another sharp edges I could find, it really will make the frame much more nicer

[brslk]

brslk and Flyboy are right on the money about the weld splatter

Sci85, just grab a file and file down those splatter bumps, you will like the frame much more if you at least file those down....most will actually just pop off, if you hit them even with a chisel

I don't have a grinder, but had a file kicking around, and went at all the splatter I could find, and any another sharp edges I could find, it really will make the frame much more nicer

Alright... how do you guys get by without a grinder!? I have 4 at the moment but usually I have 5! I hate changing wheels.

I'm gonna have to start a "get GK and Sci a grinder charity" thread.

Get a cheap horrible freight or a crappy tire grinder! you need these!

They are the most used tools in my garage.

Wanna cut something off? Grinder with a zip wheel...
Wanna shave something? Grinder with a grinding wheel...
Wanna modify something metal? Grinder...

Keep the guards on, wear safety glasses and gloves.

Oh! and the wire wheel on a 4.5 inch grinder does wonders!

Bruce.

[GateKeeper]

@brslk, your absolutely right.....a grinder is a must have, so far I have been lucky and have had no use for it, yet....

I had access to a full machine shop (my brothers) but we have had a disagreement, so I no longer can go there, unfortunately a lot of tools are there, everything from hand to air drills,grinders,ratchets, to mills and lathes, and welders, not to mention 2000 square feet of space, but hey life goes on, and I really don't want to start buying tools that I will probably not use again in another 20 years...

Hey I bought a bench grinder, so I can at least polish the parts at home.....

[Sci85]

Well, dropped the frame off at the powder coat guy this morning. Will get it back tomorrow. I can't wait...In the meantime, following my "get something done each day" motto, I hit the upper triple clamp today. Paint was tough to get off. Had to use stripper and a brass brush then the wire wheel but it finally came out pretty nice. Here's the before and after...

Before:


After:


Will post up the frame pics tomorrow.

Sci85